State and Local Immigration Laws

The ACLU and its partners have prevailed at getting discriminatory laws in states, cities, and towns across the country overturned and will keep fighting to ensure that such laws stay off the books. These laws, inspired by Arizona’s SB 1070, invite rampant racial profiling against Latinos, Asian-Americans, and others presumed to be “foreign” based on how they look or sound. These laws also authorize police to demand papers proving citizenship or immigration status from anyone they stop and suspect of being in the country unlawfully.

In addition, the ACLU is working on proactive legislation that offers immigrants the opportunity to attend school, seek professional licenses, and apply for driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status.